Sunday May 3, 2009

From NYC Blog Wined and Dined: New York City is the site of the Signature Dish Contest. It’s part of the Continental Airlines International Restaurant Week in New York City from May 1-10th and hosted by Tom Colicchio. Click here to
watch Tom present an overview of the Signature Dish Contest.
Continental Airlines has assembled 12 different NYC restaurants that
represent 12 different countries around the world. Each of the 12
restaurants will create a signature dish and serve it to diners between
May 1-1oth (see each participating restaurant’s signature dish after
the jump). After trying one or more of the signature dishes at
participating restaurants, diners are encouraged to then visit the
Continental Airlines International Restaurant Week website
to provide their feedback and ratings. Chef Colicchio will then take
all of the ratings and let us know the top 3 signature dishes voted on
by diners. Continental has actually landed some pretty big name
restaurants — Allen & Delancey, Boqueria, Del Posto, Nobu, and
Tabla, to name a few. Also, this Restaurant Week offers diners behind
the scenes access to some of the restaurants. For example, diners at Delmonico’s will get a personal tour of the kitchen, diners at Del Posto will get a tour of the extensive wine cellar, and diners at Tabla will get a tour of Floyd Cardoz’s kitchen. Here’s a list of the participating restaurants, and their offers.

Alfama (Portugal) – Diners will experience an
authentic 5-course meal, ending with a glass of port from Alfama’s
extensive collection, included with the meal. They’ll also take home a
box of Pasteis de nata, traditional Portuguese custard cakes.

Allen & Delancey (United Kingdom) – After
enjoying Chef Kyle Bailey’s 5-course meal and specially designed
signature dish, guests will be able to recreate the experience with
Chef’s signature dish recipe and a package of couscous.

Avra (Greece) – For a truly personalized
experience, a manager will help design a menu for each reservation,
providing insight into the menu and wine pairings. Guests will take
home some Greek delicacies chosen by the Avra team.

Boqueria (Spain) – While there, diners will get to
know Chef Seamus Mullen as they enjoy his specially designed shared
tasting menus - for lunch or dinner. Each diner will receive a
complimentary bag of house-made candied Marcona almonds.

China Grill (China) – Guests will enjoy an
exclusive 5-course tasting menu created by Chef Jamie Knott, with a
specially paired cocktail included in the meal. Each diner will also
take home a box of delicious ginger and almond cookies.

Delmonico’s (United States) – After enjoying an
exclusively designed menu featuring Delmonico’s most famous dishes,
diners will take a personal tour of the restaurant, a National Historic
Landmark, and take home a complimentary signed copy of the cookbook
Dining at Delmonico’s.

Del Posto (Italy) – Diners will be invited to tour
Del Posto’s extensive wine cellar and bring a taste of the restaurant
home with a special gift bag filled with the chef’s favorite Italian
delicacies.

L’Ecole (France) – Guests will begin the evening
with a behind the scenes look at L’Ecole’s teaching kitchens. After,
they’ll indulge in a unique dessert and cocktail featuring rare
Grapefruit Thai Basil Tea, included with the meal. Diners will take
home a sample of the exotic tea along with the recipe, to recreate the
experience at home.

Maya (Mexico) – Chef Sandoval offers a uniquely
designed 3-course Cinco de Mayo menu with special beverage pairings.
Diners will be gifted with a complimentary signed copy of his cookbook
Modern Mexican Flavors.

Nobu (Japan) – Nobu’s talented chefs will kick
start the meal with a complimentary Chef’s Selection Amuse-Gueule.
Diners will finish on a sweet note too, with a signature fruit sake or
shochu, included with the meal.

Plataforma (Brazil) – Guests will go behind the
scenes on a tour of the kitchen with one of Plataforma’s Master
Carvers. Everyone at the table will be gifted a complimentary
cairpirinha making kit to bring home a taste of this traditional
Brazilian cocktail.

Signature Dish: Picanha — Top sirloin served on a skewer cooked to individual preference

Tabla (India) – Guests will be invited to take a
personally guided tour of Tabla’s kitchen. After savoring an
exclusively designed 4-course prix fixe menu with an optional wine
pairing to match, they’ll take home one of Pastry Chef Melissa
Walnock’s uniquely designed desserts, packaged along with the recipe.

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